Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-17
WEAK BOILER IRON.
THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE TERRIFIC
EXPLOSION SATURDAY hight.
Inquest Upon the Body Of Mr.. Joseph o.
Mettert- Synopsis Of the Testi-
mony Taken.

Coroner Taylor and a jury summoned
according 10 law on Sunday held an in-
quest upon the body Of Mr.. Joseph Met
teri, one Of the two persons killed satur-
day Di2ht by a boiler.explosion ut the
Richmond Paper-Mill. The inquest was
begun at Christians undertaking establish
nent, 1918 east Broad street, and the jury
then visited the scene and examined the
exploded boiler aud the other appliances
OF the mill.
THE ROTARY BOILER.
The first witness examined was Ale ltxau-
der Smith, who attended to the steam. boil
er. lie testified that he furnished steam
Tor the rotary boiler from his boiler by
long iron pipe. He generally ran from
eighty to PIgbty.fye pounds OF steam In his
boiler. Saturday night when the accident
occurred be bad on about eighty.tw0 pounds
Of steam. There were two gauges OF water
on his boiler. and he was about to pumO
more water in when the explosion took
place. The boiler has at times been sub
iectcd TO as high as 100 pounds pressure.
Alexander Smith Is c0lored man.
No machinery OF the mill Is run By stelm.
All the motive power is from water. The
steam i, used for heating, cleaning, &c.
MR.. f. D. CHRISTIAN,
Mr.. Y. u. Christian. the president OF the
company. explained to the Jury thIt there
was an attachment 10 the rotary boiler
called The Watson regulator, by when the
flow Of steam from the generating boiler TO
the rotary Is reguilied. This regulator
was adopted by the cOmplny for eco.
nomicll reasons; that is 80 saw, to fix
pressure of steam wbichswlll not un-
necessarily destroy the ibrc OF the
stock which is being treated. 70 eXpail
il more fully, MIR. Christian said, for eX.
ample, IL the stock which was in the rotary
only required pressure OF steam OF forty
pounds, The regulator was set AT that mlrk,
and only that amOdnt OF pressure could
pass the regulator. although the steam IN
the generating boiler might run mp as high
as ninety pounds pressure. II worked au-
iOmaticaliy.
THE ROTARY BOILER NOT INJURED BY TIE
LATE FIRE.
Mr.. Christian, in reply TO 4 question by
one OF the Jurors, stated that this boiler
was IN building attached to the mill that
was burned, aud experienced mechanic,
who had been selected by the insurance
company to assess damages refused - make
any allowance for damages to the rotary
boiler. He said be had directed that no
greater pressure than seventy pounds
should he used on the rotary boiler mot
that il was incapable OF Standing it, but TO
prevent injury to the hbres). but that, a
be was informed, the regulator was in fact
fixed at only siXty'five pounds.
OTHER WITNESSES.
". W. Pierce, in charge Of the machinery
at the mill. was examined, and explained
the mechanism and working OF the regull-
tor.
A. ). Bacon. the superintendent Of the
mill, also explained the regulator, aud
stated that be knew of nothing connected
with The machinery Of the null or the SUI
pervisiOn OF 1t which would account for the
explosion.
TESTIMONY OF EXPERTS.
Messrs. Alexander Delaney aud william
Simptin were exahined as experts. EIch
of the gentlemen said that he had examined
the iron OF the exploded boiler, and from
the character OF the fracture they con-
sldered the iron OF an inferior character.
Mr. Simpkin showed a small piece OF the
iron, which was OF a crystalline character,
with no ductllity, the fracture being very
short. They also SAID that no expert could
have discovered the imperiections OF the
iron from an external inspection. The
only way il could have been ascertalned
was by cutting out a piece and putting 1t
to 4 regular tCst; that il was impossible
for the purchaser or user to determine the
condition Of The boiler by any examination
he could make.
Mr.. Smpkin said that ii was his opinion
that he pressure Of steam and the iofcrlor
character OF the iron would account for
the explosion.
THE VERDICT.
Tie Jury returned verdict that Joseph
G.. Mcttcrt came to his death from injuries
received by the accidental explosion OF
,tcam-bOicr ut the null Of the Richmond
Paper Company, and they are OF opinion
thai the boiler iron WAS Of an inferior
quality, bur. ~ well as They can ascertliD,
no blame should De attached TO the paper
company on account OF the accident.
The remains OF Mr.. Meitert were taken
in charge by committee from the order
OF Red Men, placed ~ a neat burial clse,
ana removed to the late residence OF the
deceased, on Seventeenth street.
PETER PHDE'S BODY.
The Coroner thought that It was Unne-
cc,ssry TO hold an inquest unon the body
~ Price, tie cOl0red man Killed al The
same time Mr.. Mettert was. The facts in
tie one ease apply TO the other. The Doay
was delivered to relatives ana friends, who
took ii TO Manchester, wnere deceased re-
sided.
Mr.. NETTERT'S FUNERAL.
The funeral OF Mr.. Meitert took place
from Trinity cbmch at O'Clock yesterday
afternoon, the pastor, Rev. DR.. Reed, Off
ctItiDg. The building was crowded to its
utmost capacity With sOrrowiug friends OF
the family. DR.. Reeds address was very
feeling one, and the church choir rendered
some very touching and pathetic music.
Mr.. Roland Childrey sang n solo. Anna.
wan Tribe Of Rcd Men-of which deceased
was member-turned out one hundred
and forty strong. and committee from
Syracuse Lodge Of Pythians escorted the
remains 10 their last rest rosting-plice, in
~hocL Op- Hill cpmptptV